Meter-reading device.



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ROBERT ATKINSON CASSON, OF DULUTI-I, MINNESOTA.

METER-READING DEVICE.

Application led January 23, 1917.

To ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. Casson, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meter-Reading Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in meter reading devices, and has for itsobject to provide mechanism of the character specified, by means ofwhich meters submerged by dirty water may be read.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. '2 is an enlarged section on the line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view partly in section of a modified construction.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a taperingcasing 1 is provided, open at the large end, and having the smaller endclosed by a disk 2 of transparent material, as for instance glass. Thisdisk is held in place on the casing by a collar 3, the said collarhaving at one end an internally extending rib 4 overlying the edge ofthe disk and being internally threaded at the other to engage thecasing. A packing ring 5 is arranged between the end of the casing andthe disk, and the joint is air tight.

The large end of the casing is reinforced as shown at 6, and the saidend is of a diameter to fit the face of the meter indicated at 7 and toencircle the said face so that the said meter may be read by lookingthrough the casing. lVithin the casing, and intermediate the endsthereof. is arranged a reflector S, the said reflector being secured tothe casing wall. and this reflector carries an incandescent light bulb 9at its center, the arrangement being such that the light of the bulbwill be reflected toward the large end of the casing. The bulb issupplied specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Serial No. 143,938.

with light in the present instance, by lead wires 10, which areconnected with the light in the usual manner, and with binding posts 11held on the wall of the casing near the small end thereof and insulatedfrom the said wall. Current may be supplied to the light from anysuitable source of supply, the lead wires from the source beingconnected with the binding posts.

If desired, the bulb may be dispensed with, and an ordinary flash lightmay be used instead. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, wherein thecasing l2 is provided with a hook 13 at a suitable point in its length,the said hook being adapted to support the flash light indicated at14,-. The embodiment shown in Fig. l is also provided with a hook 15 fora like purpose.

In operation, the device is used as indicated in Fig. 1, the large endof the funnel being forced downward through the water until it engagesthe face of the meter. The air pressure in the casing will force thewater in the casing outward so that it does not interfere with thereading of the meter, which is illuminated by the light rays reflectedthereon.

I claim:

A device of the character specified, comprising a tapering casing havingits large end open and adapted to fit about a meter to permit the sameto be read through the casing, a disk of transparent material held atthe small end of the casing. an air-tight connection between the saiddisk and the casing for driving out the water over the meter when thecasing is placed about the same, the. casing having means intermediateits ends for supporting an illuminating means to illuminate the face ofthe meter.

ROBERT ATKINSON OASSON.

IVitnessed by- J. M. HALLING, J. IV. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. CJ

